Fluid operated hand tool



1966 J. A. PAWLOSKI FLUID OPERATED HAND TOOL Filed Nov. 4, 1964INVENTOR. JAMES A. PAWLOSKI l @wfmw ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,269,223 FLUID OPERATED HAND TOOL James A. Pawloski, East Woodstock,Conn. Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 408,900 12 Claims. (Cl. 811) Thepresent invention relates to fluid operated hand tools and moreparticularly to fluid operated hand tools having opposed jaws useful forclamping, gripping, swaging or the like.

A principal aim of the present invention is to provide an improvedpneumatically operable hand tool having a compact and lightweightassembly and a clamping, gripping or swaging action of improvedcapabilities.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a pneumaticallyoperable hand tool of the type described which is useful with sources ofcompressed air conventionally available at manufacturing and repairfacilities.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide an improved fluidoperated hand tool having detachable jaws that may be easily replacedfor selectively adapting the hand tool for different clamping functionsand thereby provide a basic hand tool of unusual flexibility.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a fluid operated handtool having a combination of parts of low cost manufacture adapted foreconomical and convenient assembly.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view, partly broken away, showing anembodiment of the fluid operated hand tool of the present invention witha control button thereof in a fully depressed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section view of the embodiment of thefluid operated hand tool of FIG. 1 showing the cooperative parts of aquick-disconnect thereof in an aligned disconnected relationship;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section view of the embodiment of the fluidoperated hand tool of FIG. 1 taken substantially along line 33 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view of the embodiment ofthe fluid operated hand tool of FIG.

1 showing the control button thereof in a normal or withdrawn position;and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal view, partly broken away,illustrating a modified embodiment of the fluid operated hand tool ofthe present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like numbers representlike parts, a first embodiment of a fluid operated hand tool of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 14. This embodiment is shownwith an elongated generally cylindrical tool housing 8 having a diametersuitable for convenient manual manipulation of the tool and comprisingseparable forward and rear housing portioins 10, 12 respectively. A plugor bushing 14 is fixed within the forward end of a longitudinallyextending forwardly opening bore 15 in the rear housing portion 12 by apair of transverse pins 13 and with its annular flange 16 abutting theforward end of the rear housing portion. The plug 14 accordinglyencloses a longitudinally extending operating cylinder 17 of the bore15. The plug 14 is adapted for receipt within the rearward end of alongitudinally extending rearwardly opening bore 18 in the forwardhousing portion and is accordingly adapted to enclose a longitudinallyextending 3,269,223 Patented August 30, 1966 ice operating cylinder 19of the bore 18. In addition to providing an end cap for each of thebores 15, 18, the plug 14 cooperates with the rear end of the forwardhousing portion 10 to provide .a quick-disconnect attachment 20 betweenthe housing portions. In the illustrated embodiment the quick-disconnect20 is provided by a breech lock, best seen in FIG. 2, comprisingangularly spaced axially extending grooves or slots 21, 22 andintermediate threaded portions 24, 26 on the forward housing portion 10and plug 14 respectively. The threaded portions and axial slots therebycooperate to provide for attaching the housing portions by inserting theforward housing portion longitudinally onto the plug 14 and rotating theforward housing portion relative to the plug until the rear end 27 ofthe forward housing portion 10 abuts the annular flange 16 and therebysecurely locks the housing portions together.

The forward housing portion 10 is slotted from its forward end toprovide a pair of diametrically opposed slots 28, 30 opening into theoperating cylinder 19, and a jaw assembly comprising a pair of jawplates 32, 36 are mounted within the slots 28, 30, respectively. The jaw32 is mounted within the slot 28 on a transverse pivot pin 37, and theopposing jaw 36 is fixed within the slot 30 by a series of laterallyextending retaining pins 38. The jaw plates are provided with archedlever arms 40, 42 having opposed inner edge portions 43, 44,respectively, disposed Within the forward operating cylinder 19. Atorsion spring 41 received in part within the slot forwardly of theoperating cylinder 19 has opposed offset ends received within conformingslots in the jaws to provide for pivoting the jaw 32 to its normal oropen position.

The pivotal jaw 32 is actuated against the bias of the torsion spring 41for clamping, gripping, swaging or the like by a ram 46 having a pushrod 50 longitudinally reciprocable within a central opening in the plug14, an actuating piston 48 fixed to the rear end of the push rod foroperation within the operating cylinder 17 and a jaw operator 52 fixedto the forward end of the push rod for longitudinal movement within theoperating cylinder 19. The jaw operator 52 includes a roller support 53fixed on the end of the push rod by a transverse pin 54 and a pair ofaxially offset and diametrically related parallel rollers 55, 56rotatable on the support 53 for engagement with the jaw edge portions43, 44, respectively. The edge portion 43 of the pivotal jaw 32 isconvexly curved to provide a camming edge whereas the edge portion 44 ofthe stationary jaw 36 extends parallel to the axis of reciprocablemovement of the ram 46 to provide a guide or support for the ram. Thus,upon forward movement of the ram 46 from its withdrawn position the jaw36 functions as a lateral guide or support for the ram and the roller 55functions to pivot the jaw 32 to provide cooperative action between thejaw faces for crimping, swaging, gripping or the like.

To facilitate operative alignment of the jaws with the rollers 55, 56when assembling the housing portions 10, 12 and to further assist inguiding the reciprocating ram 46, the rollers are provided with spacedannular flanges forming intermediate peripheral recesses or slots 57, S8for receiving the rearwardly extending lever arms of the jaws. Anoperator is thereby assured of having the rollers and jaws in alignedrelationship by simply fitting the opposed jaw edges within theperipheral recesses 57, 58, when the forward housing portion isassembled with the rear housing portion, for which purpose the ram 46may be extended to enable the forward housing portion to be insertedonto the ram before the forward housing portion 10 is inserted onto theplug 14.

For selectively extending and retracting the ram 46 a control valve ispositioned in the rear housing portion 12 rearwardly of the operatingcylinder 17 is adapted for connection to an external source of, forexample, compressed air, as by means of a flexible conduit 61 having aconnector 59 threaded into an inlet or supply port 60 in the rear faceof the tool housing. The control valve includes a spool valve 62reciprocable within a radial valve bore 63 and having a pair of spacedlands 65, 66 and an intermediate segment 64 of reduced diameter whichcooperate to provide four-way valving action for selectively connectingthe ends of the operating cylinder 17 with the supply port 60 and toexhaust. The spool valve 62 is provided with a stem portion 71 having apush button 67 at its outer end for depressing the valve against thebias of a compression spring 68 interposed between the push button and acap 69 threaded into an enlarged outer end of the bore 63 and securing avalve seal 70 therein. The ends of the spool valve operating chamber areconnected to the atmosphere by exhaust passages 76, 78 to provide abalanced valve action, and accordingly the spool valve 62 can be easilydepressed with the button 67 and when released is quickly returned toits normal position by the compression spring 68. A first supply passage80 intersecting the valve bore 63 extends between the supply port 60 andthe operating cylinder 17 coaxially with the cylinder 17. The forwardend port-ion 81 of this supply passage 80 is also connected to the upperend of the valve operating chamber by a diagonal exhaust passage 83 andaccordingly also functions as an exhaust passage adapted forcommunication with the exhaust passage 76 when the valve is depressed. Asecond supply passage 84 intersecting the valve bore 63 at a pointoffset from the central supply passage 80 connects the supply port 60with the rear end of the cylinder 17 for supplying pressure fluid to therear end of the cylinder when the spool valve is depressed. A secondlongitudinally extending passage 85 connecting the rear end of thecylinder 17 with the lower end of the valve operating chamber functionsas an exhaust passage adapted for communication with the exhaust passage78 when the spool valve is released.

A supply and exhaust tube 88 is provided for establishing fluidcommunication between the forward end of the operating cylinder 17 andthe passage 81, for which purpose the forward end of the tube 88 isfixed within the passage 81 and is received within a longitudinallyextending rearwardly opening enlarged bore 90 in the push rod 50. A seal91 within the enlarged bore 90 and encircling the tube 88 provides forsealing the bore 90 from the rear end of the operating cylinder 17 and apair of diametrically opposed radially extending passages or orifices 92in the push rod provide for connecting the enlarged bore 90 with theforward end of the operating cylinder 17. Accordingly, with the spoolvalve in its normal or withdrawn position, as seen in FIG. 4, theforward end of the operating cylinder 17 is connected to the supply port60 and the rear end of the operating cylinder 17 is connected to exhaustto effect withdrawal of the ram. With the spool valve depressed, as seenin FIG. 1, the rear end of the operating cylinder 17 is connected to thesupply port 60 and the forward end of the operating cylinder isconnected to exhaust to extend the ram 46. With the ram fully extended,as shown in FIG. 1, the forward end of the supply and exhaust tube ispositioned rearwardly of the orifices 92 to provide direct fluidconnection therebetween and to thereby provide for initial rapidwithdrawal of the ram. When the ram is withdrawn from its fully extendedposition, the fluid flow is restricted at an increasing rate by theannular conduit surrounding tube 88 to control the rate of withdrawal ofthe ram. Of course, upon extending the ram this fluid restrictiondecreases to ensure quick and complete operation of the pivotal jaw 32without at the same time causing undue impact with the workpiece or withthe stationary jaw 36.

A modified jaw assembly illustrated in FIG. is constructed for initiallygripping or holding a workpiece before the pivotal jaw 132 is actuated.For this purpose,

an auxiliary jaw is mounted on the pivot pin 37 of the pivotal jaw 132within a recess 139 formed on the pivotal jaw plate 132. The auxiliaryjaw 100 is provided with a rearwardly extending lever arm 144 spacedoutwardly of the rearwardly extending lever arm of the jaw 132 and isbiased into engagement with the stationary jaw 36 by a compressionspring 152 mounted between the auxiliary jaw 100 and the pivotal paw132. The spring also functions to bias the pivotal jaw 132 to itsretracted position. The auxiliary jaw 100 may be provided with a button156 to facilitate retraction of the auxiliary jaw and thereby assist inthe manual insertion and accurate positioning of the workpiece betweenthe auxiliary and stationary jaws 100, 36.

Thus it can be seen that the fluid operated hand tool of the presentinvention can be easily manipulated to provide a clamping, gripping orswaging function or the like of improved capabilities with aconventional source of compressed air. Additionally, the hand tool ofthe present invention is adapted for securely and accurately holding aworkpiece prior to actuation of the main jaws and is adapted forselective attachment of the jaws in accordance with each particularoperation.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of the structure above described will become readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid operated hand tool comprising an elongated manuallymanipulatable tool housing having separable forward and rear housingportions with quick-disconnect means for detachable connection thereof,a pair of forwardly extending cooperating jaws mounted on theforwardhousing portion, at least one of the jaws being mounted forpivotal movement about a laterally extending axis for cooperative actionwith the other jaw, said jaws having rearwardly extending lever armswith opposed inner edge portions receivable within the forward housingportion, a longitudinally extending operating cylinder in the rearhousing portion, an actuating piston longitudinally reciprocable withinthe operating cylinder, a rod fixed to the piston projecting forwardlythereof, a pair of rollers supported on the rod engageable with saidopposed inner edge portions of the lever arms respectively for effectingoperation of the jaws upon longitudinal movement of the actuatingpiston, at least one of the rollers having an annular groove adapted forreceiving the edge portion of the respective lever arm for maintainingthe rollers in operative alignment with the lever arms, and manuallyoperable fluid valve means in the rear housing portion rearwardly of theoperating cylinder for controlling the longitudinal movement of thepiston.

2. A fluid operated hand tool comprising an elongated manuallymanipulatable tool housing having forward and rear housing portions withquick-disconnect means for detachable connection thereof, alongitudinally extending operating cylinder in the rear housing portion,an actuating piston longitudinally reciprocable within the operatingcylinder, a pair of cooperating jaws mounted on the forward housingportion, one of said jaws being pivotally mounted on the forward housingportion and the other of said jaws being fixed to the forward housingportion, the jaws having rearwardly extending lever arms with opposedinner edge portions receivable within the forward housing portion, theopposed edge portion of the pivotal jaw being inclined to thelongitudinal axis of the piston to provide a jaw camming edge, theopposed edge portion of the fixed jaw being substantially parallel tothe longi- 'tudinal axis of the piston, a rod fixed to the pistonprojecting forwardly thereof, roller means on the rod engageable withsaid opposed edge portions of the lever arms respectively for operatingthe jaws upon longitudinal movement of the actuating piston, andmanually operable fluid valve means in the rear housing portionrearwardly of the operating cylinder for controlling the longitudinalmovement of the piston.

3. The fluid operated hand tool of claim 2 wherein the roller meansincludes a pair of rollers mounted on the rod for rotation aboutparallel laterally extending axes for engagement with the opposed inneredge portions of the lever arms respectively, with one of said rollerspositioned forwardly of the other, and with at least one of the rollershaving a peripheral groove for receiving the edge portion of therespective lever arm.

4. A fluid operated hand tool comprising an elongated manuallymanipulatable tool housing, a pair of main jaws mounted on a forward endportion of the housing for extension forwardly thereof, one of said mainjaws being fixed to the housing and the other of said main jaws beingmounted on the housing for pivotal movement about a laterally extendingaxis between open and closed positions, an auxiliary jaw supported onthe forward end portion of the housing adjacent the pivotal main jaw forpivotal movement independently thereof for cooperative engagement withthe fixed main jaw, resilient means urging the auxiliary jaw intoengagement with the fixed jaw, and manually operable motor means forselectively pivoting the pivotal main jaw between its open and closedpositions.

5. A fluid operated hand tool comprising an elongated manuallymanipulatable tool housing having diametrically opposed slots extendinglongitudinally from the forward end thereof, a pair of opposed main jawsmounted within the slots respectively for extension forwardly of thehousing, one of said main jaws being fixed within its respective slotand the other of said main jaws being mounted for pivotal movement abouta laterally extending axis within its respective slot between open andclosed positions, said pivotal main jaw having a rearwardly extendinglever arm with an inner edge portion receivable within the housing, anauxiliary jaw pivotally mounted in side-by-side relationship with thepivotal main jaw for cooperative action with the fixed main jawforholding a workpiece, the auxiliary jaw having a rearwardly extendinglever arm outwardly of the lever arm of the pivotal main jaw, springmeans urging :the auxiliary jaw into cooperative action with the fixedmain jaw, and manually operable motor means for engaging the inner edgeportion of the pivotal main jaw for selectively operating the pivotalmain jaw between its open and closed positions.

6. A fluid operated hand tool adapted to be connected to a source ofpressurized fluid comprising an elongated tool housing having forwardand rear housing portions, a pair of cooperating jaws mounted on theforward housing portion for extension forwardly thereof, the jaws havingrearwardly extending lever arms with opposed inner edge portions withinthe forward housing portion, a longitudinally extending operatingcylinder in the rear housing portion; a ram longitudinally reciprocablewithin the housing between forward and rear positions engageable withsaid opposed edge port-ions for operating the jaws upon longitudinalmovement thereof and including an actuating piston longitudinallyreciprocable within the cylinder dividing the cylinder into forward andrear chambers; manually operable fluid valve means in the rear housingportion located rearwardly of the operating cylinder for controlling thelongitudinal movement of the ram, passage means connecting the fluidvalve means with the forward and rear chambers of the operating cylinderfor selectively admitting pressure fluid to and exhausting it from theforward and rear chambers thereof and in cluding a fixed longitudinallyextending supply and exhaust tube within the operating cylinder havingone end in communication with the fluid valve means and the other end incommunication with the forward chamber of the operating cylinder.

7. The fluid operated hand tool recited in claim 6 wherein the fluidvalve means includes a radially extending valve bore in the rear housingportion rearwardly of the cylinder, a manually operable spool valvereciprocable within the valve bore, a supply port in the rear housingportion rearwardly of and in communication with the valve bore, andsupply passage means connecting the valve bore with the supply andexhaust tube and with the rear chamber.

8. A pneumatically operated hand tool adapted for connection to a sourceof compressed air comprising an elongated manually manipulatable toolhousing having forward and rear housing portions with quick-disconnectmeans for detachable connection thereof, said forward housing portionhaving opposed slots at the forward end thereof and said rear housingportion having a longitudinally extending cylinder therein, a pair ofcooperating jaws mounted within the opposed slots respectively, one ofsaid jaws being pivotally mounted within its respective slot and theother of said jaws being fixed within its respective slot, said jawshaving rearwardly extending lever arms with opposed inner edge portionsdisposed within the forward housing portion, the edge portion of thepivotal jaw being rearwardly tapered, the edge portion of the fixed jawbeing substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder; aram comprising an actuating piston longitudinally reciprocable withinthe cylinder dividing the cylinder into forward and rear chambers, a rodfixed to the piston projecting forwardly thereof, and a pair of spacedrollers mounted on the rod for rotation about parallel lateral axes forrolling engagement with the opposed inner edge portions of the leverarms respectively; manually operable valve means in the rear housingportion rearwardly of the piston cylinder for controlling thelongitudinal movement of the piston, and a fixed longitudinallyextending supply and exhaust tube within the cylinder in communicationwith the valve means, said ram having a rearwardly opening borereceiving the supply and exhaust tube for connecting the tube with theforward chamber.

9. A fluid operated hand tool adapted to be connected to a source ofpressurized fluid comprising an elongated tool housing having forwardand rear housing portions, a pair of cooperating jaws mounted on theforward housing portion for extension forwardly thereof, the jaws havingrearwardly extending lever arms with opposed inner edge portions withinthe forward housing portion, a longitudinally extending operatingcylinder in the rear housing portion; a ram longitudinally reciprocablewithin the housing between forward and rear positions engageable withsaid opposed edge portions for operating the jaws upon longitudinalmovement thereof and including an actuating piston longitudinallyreciprocable within the cylinder dividing the cylinder into forward andrear chambers; manually operable fluid valve means in the rear housingportion rearwardly of the operating cylinder for selectively admittingpressure fluid to and exhausting it from the forwarctand rear chambersfor controlling the longitudinal movement of the ram, a fixedlongitudinally extending supply and exhaust tube within the cylinderhaving one end in communication with the valve means and the other endin communication with the forward chamber, said ram having a centralrearwardly opening bore therein receiving the supply and exhaust tubeand dimensioned at least in part to provide an annular conduittherearound, and passage means between the annular conduit and theforward chamber, said passage means positioned rearwardly of the forwardend of the supply and exhaust tube with the ram in its rear position .toeffect a restriction of the fluid flow between the supply and exhausttube and the forward chamber which varies with the position of the ram.

10. A fluid operated hand tool comprising an elongated manuallymanipulatable tool housing having separable forward and rear housingportions, a pair of cooperating jaws mounted on the forward housingportion for extension forwardly thereof, a longitudinally extendingoperating cylinder in the rear housing portion, an actuating pistonlongitudinally reciprocable within the operating cylinder, manuallyoperable fluid valve means in the rear housing portion locatedrearwardly of the operating cylinder and supply and exhaust passagemeans establishing communication with the operating cylinder on oppositesides of the piston for selectively admitting fluid to and exhausting itfrom the operating cylinder for controlling the longitudinal movement ofthe piston, an elongated ram fixed to the piston and extending axiallyforwardly thereof into the forward housing portion for operating thejaws upon longitudinal movement of the piston, and releasable connectingmeans for maintaining the forward and rear housing portions in assembledrelation and for quick detachment thereof.

11. A fluid operated hand tool comprising an elongated manuallym'anipulatable tool housing having forward and rear housing portions,the forward housing portion having a longitudinally extending rearwardlyopening bore therein and the rear housing portion having alongitudinally extending forwardly opening bore therein to provide alongitudinally extending operating cylinder, a pair of cooperating jawsmounted on the forward housing portion operable for cooperative action,a double acting piston longitudinally reciprocable within the operatingcylinder dividing the cylinder into forward and rear chamber portions, apiston rod projecting forwardly from the piston into the bore of theforward housing piston, 21 bushing slidably receiving the piston rod andfixed within the forward end of the bore of the rear housing portion forenclosing the forward end of the longitudinally extending operatingcylinder, jaw operating means on the forward end of the piston rod foreffecting operation of the jaws upon longitudinal movement of the doubleacting piston; fluid control means including manually operable fluidvalve means in the rear housing portion rearwardly of the bore thereinfor selectively admitting pressure fluid to and exhausting it from theforward and rear chamber portions for fluid operation of the doubleacting piston in both longitudinal directions, and disconnect means fordetachable connection of the forward and rear housing portions forpermitting replacement of the forward housing portion,

12. A fluid operated hand tool adapted to be connected to a source ofpressurized fluid comprising an elongated tool housing having forwardand rear housing portions, a pair of jaws mounted on the forward housingportion operable for cooperative action, a longitudinally extendingoperating cylinder in the rear housing portion, a ram longitudinallyreciprocable within the housing between forward and rear positions foroperating the jaws upon longitudinal movement thereof and including anactuating piston longitudinally reciprocable within the operatingcylinder dividing the operating cylinder into forward and rear chamberportions; fluid control means for selectively admitting pressure fluidto and exhausting it from the forward and rear chamber portions forcontrolling the longitudinal movement of the ram including manuallyoperable fluid valve means in the rear housing portion rearwardly of theoperating cylinder and a fixed longitudinally extending supply andexhaust tube within the operating cylinder having one end incommunication with the fluid valve means and the other end incommunication with the forward chamber portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,842 8/1965Keane et a1 8l301 X 1,987,959 1/1935 Knuuti et a1 819.51 2,644,1426/1953 Danberg 8l5.1 3,130,484 4/1964 Zdanis.

FOREIGN PATENTS 722,160 1/1955 Great Britain. 747,766 4/ 1956 GreatBritain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner.

1. A FLUID OPERATED HAND TOOL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MANUALLYMANIPULATABLE TOOL HOUSING HAVING SEPARABLE FORWARD AND REAR HOUSINGPORTIONS WITH QUICK-DISCONNECT MEANS FOR DETACHABLE CONNECTION THEREOF,A PAIR OF FORWARDLY EXTENDING COOPERATING JAWS MOUNTED ON THE FORWARDHOUSING PORTION, AT LEAST ONE OF THE JAWS BEING MOUNTED FOR PIVOTALMOVEMENT ABOUT A LATERALLY EXTENDING AXIS OF COOPERATIVE ACTION WITH THEOTHER JAW, SAID JAWS HAVING REARWARDLY EXTENDING LEVER ARMS WITH OPPOSEDINNER EDGE PORTIONS RECEIVABLE WITHIN THE FORWARD HOUSING PORTION, ALONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING OPERATING CYLINDER IN THE REAR HOUSING PORTION,AN ACTUATING PISTON LONGITUDINALLY RECIPROCABLE WITHIN THE OPERATINGCYLINDER, A ROD FIXED TO THE PISTON PROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREOF, A PAIROF ROLLERS SUPPORTED ON THE ROD ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID OPPOSED INNER EDGEPORTIONS OF THE LEVER ARMS RESPECTIVELY FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF THEJAWS UPON LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATING PISTON, AT LEAST ONE OFTHE ROLLERS HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING THE EDGEPORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE LEVER ARM FOR MAINTAINING THE ROLLERS INOPERATIVE ALIGNMENT WITH THE LEVER ARMS, AND MANUALLY OPERABLE FLUIDVALVE MEANS IN THE REAR HOUSING PORTION REARWARDLY OF THE OPERATINGCYLINDER FOR CONTROLLING THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON.